Telephone set



June 20, 1939. H. F. OBERGFELL TELEPHONE SET Filed Dec. 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HERBERT E ofneFELL BY v nATTORNEY.

June 20, 1939.

H. F. OBERGFELL 2,163,006

TELEPHONE SET Filed Dec. 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'i INVENTUR.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL ATTORNEY.

Patente-cl June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES TELEPHONE SET Herbert F. Obergfell, River Forest, Ill., assignor to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 2, 1936, Serial No. 113,802

9 Claims.

This invention relates in general to telephone `sets of the outdoor type and the object is to provide a new and improved telephone of the waterproof or splash-proof type for use in exposed locations such as on board ship or in other places where adverse climatic conditions `are encountered.

A further object of the invention is to design a mounting plate for supporting all of the telephonic apparatus of the telephone set which is adapted to be arranged in a protective casing provided with a cover to make the telephone set Water tight, or alternatively in a casing not provided with a cover to make a telephone of the splash-proof or semi-water tight type.

A further object is to provide a mounting plate for a telephone set upon which all of the telephonic apparatus is mounted in a compact, readily accessible, and substantial manner. To this end the mounting plate is arranged and formed to the shape of the general contour of the telephone apparatus accommodated thereon.

The foregoing objects and detailed features will be apparent hereinafter from the detailed description, which, together with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, depict a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings;

Fig. l illustrates a front View of the mounting plate together with the telephone apparatus shown mounted on the front side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the mounting plate showing the apparatus mounted in the rear side of the same;

Fig. 3 is a full side view of a telephone set of the splash-proof type with the mounting plate and telephone apparatusV shown supported thereon;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side View of the splash-prooi set of Fig. 3 and of the mounting plate of Fig. 1 shown in the direction of the sectional line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a full side View of a telephone set of the water-tight type with the cover in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the water-tight set of Fig. 5 and of the mounting plate of Fig. 1, shown in the direction of the line 6 6 oi' Fig. l.

v Referring to the drawings, the mounting plate designated by the numeral 5 is preferably made of cast aluminum formed in theshape indicated, having an elongated depression 6 (Fig. 1) formed vertically along the left-hand portion of the mounting plate and flat portions I on the righthand end of the mounting plate. Midway between the at portions 'I a protruding or bulged out portion 8 is formed in the plate. A series of mounting holes 60 are drilled in the periphery of the mounting plate. 9 is accommodated in the depression 6 of the The hand set telephone mounting plate and is held in the depression byA a pair of spring clips I and II between which the handle of the hand set 9 snaps. These spring clips I0 and I I are screw supported on a bracket member I2 which in turn is held in place by a pair of screws threaded into studs formed around the screw holes in the bottom of the depression 6. The bracket I2 is formed with a hand set supporting hook I3 in which the upper end of the hand set 9 is supported. The spring clips I0 and II prevent the hand set 9 from falling off its resting plate on the hook I3 when a violent rolling of the ship takes place. The surfaces of the spring clips'A Ill and II, and of the hook I3 which are in direct contact with the hand set handle are provided With rubber sleeves to prevent marring and also to provide greater gripping action on the handle. A rubber telephone cord I4 extends from the bottom of the hand set 9 through an opening in the side of the depression 6 to the rear of the mounting plate where a water-proof packing nut 6I is provided around the cord.

Referring to Fig. 4, magneto generator 20 of any conventional type is supported on a ledge 22 formed on mounting plate 5 and held in place by means of screws 23. The generator 20 is arranged immediately behind and partially within the bulged out or protruding portion 8 of the mounting plate while the handle 2I for generator projects through and from the Afront of the mounting plate. 'Ihe handle 2| is provided with a spring at its pivot so that it can normally fold over when not in use. The shaft connecting the handle 2I and the generator 20 is surrounded by a water proof packing washer 26. Upon the upper side of the mounting plate 5, on the flat portion 1 immediately above the protruding portion 8, a manually operated switch is supported. The pointer of the knob 2l is adapted to rotate over an indicating plate 28 Which is provided with suitable indicia to which the pointer may be turned. The shaft for the knob 21 extends through a hole in the mounting plate 5 to the rear of the same where switch contact elements 29 are supported. A water-tight packing is formed by the indicating plate 28 surrounding the shaft of the knob 21.

An'instruction card 65 for listing the call numbers of other telephones is supported on the front side of the iiat portion I of the mounting plate 5 immediately below the protruding portion 8. Behind the instruction card 65 and on the rear side of mounting plate 5, (Figs. 2 and 4), a call signal or bell 24 is supported by the bracket 25 which is held in place by a pair of screws threaded in the rear of plate 5. This call signal may be of any well known conventional type.

It Will be noted by referring to Figs. 3 and 4 that the height of the generator handle 2| coincides approximately with the height of the handle of hand set 9 when viewed from the side so that no isolated projecting pieces of apparatus are protruding and therefore be subject to accidental bumping and damaging. This is also true of the rear side of the plate. The front surface of the mounting plate with the apparatus supported on the front thereof, presents a relatively smooth surface. From the foregoing description it will also be appreciated that all of the telephonie apparatus for operating the telephone is supported in an operative, readily accessible and compact manner upon the front and rear sides of the mounting plate 5, permitting easy access to the equipment for use, maintenance, or repair purposes.

It may be stated that the hand set 9 may be provided with a transmitter and receiver of the magnetic type, that is one in which no source of power or external battery is required to operate the units for telephonie purposes although the conventional battery operated type may be used. This hand set is also arranged to be water-proof as to its internal operating parts and can therefore be immersed in water without danger. The

' magneto generator 2Q is for the purpose of transmitting ringing current over the telephone line circuit to actuate the call signal, such as 24, of another telephone, the switch knob 21, however, being first rotated to the desired number indicating the wanted telephone. Any number of similar equipped telephones may be connected to the telephone line and conversation or signalling take place between them. As the invention is not concerned with the details of the system it will not be further explained,

In certain locations on board a ship it is desirable that a telephone be provided which is of the so-called splash-proof type, that is one in which the splashing of water or excessive moisture on the telephone will not affect the operating parts. Such a telephone set is disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. The mounting plate 5 just described is fastened as a lid around and to the edge of the cast aluminum casing 3G, by means of a series of screws 35 threaded in the edge of casing 30. A rubber washer or gasket 35 seals the mounting plate 5 and edge of casing 35. Casing 30 is pro vided at the top and bottom with lugs 3| having holes therein for the purpose of mounting the telephone set in a suitable position on a wall or bulkhead. At the top and bottom ends of casing 30 screw plugs'32 are also provided which upon removal permit connection at either end of the set with a conduit containing the telephone line wires. At the inside and on the bottom of casing 30 a terminal block 63 is fastened by means of screws 34 threaded into the bottom of casing 30. This terminal block 63 is for the purpose of facilitating the wiring of the telephone and the connecting of it to the line wires. Connections from the hand set connecting cord I4 are extended to this terminal plate 63, as well as from the selecting switch 29, the magneto generator 20, and signal bell 24. l

At each side of the lower portion of casing 3D there is provided a screenedr opening 33 permitting emission of the sound of the signal bell 24 when actuated. In order to prevent entry of water or moisture to the casing 3U a piece of chamois skin or other suitable water-proof covering is provided behind the screen 33- If desired, this may take the form of a diaphragm which is actuated by the sound waves through the column of air between the diaphragm and the signal 24. y

'when' mounted inside this telephone.

internal operating mechanism supported behind 1 the mounting plate 5.

In certain locations on board ship it may be desirable to provide a telephone set which is sub- .ject to complete emersion in water and under certain conditions under pressure and for this purpose the casing 40 disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 is provided. This casing is suitably formed of cast aluminum into the shape 40 disclosed, being provided with integral lugs 4I on the sides having holes therein for supporting the telephone set on a wall. At the top and bottom ends the plugs 42 are provided, Wnich upon removal, permit'the connection thereto of suitable conduits for theY connecting telephone wires. A ledge 43 extends completely around the edge of casing 4l) against which the hinged cover 44 rests in its closed position. Cover 44 is hinged at 45 to the bottom of casing 40 while the top of the cover is provided with an opening handle 46. A further ledge is formed around the inside of the casing 40, against which the mounting plate 5 and all its apparatus thereon is supported by means of the screws 35, the rubber gasket 41 being first placed around the ledge to seal the joint. In order to prevent the entry of water into the casing and onto the front of mounting plate 5 rubber gasket 5I is provided inside the ledge 43 against which the edge of the cover 44 is pressed when the cover is in a closed position and locked by the handle 46. In the closed position the handle 46 which is provided with a locking lug 49 is turned so that lug 49 engages the slot 50 in the ledge 43 thereby squeezing the rubber gasket 5| in the ledge 43 between the cover and casing and effectively sealing the inside of the casing 40 from the elements. A suitable terminal strip or block 52 is supported by means of screws 53 threaded into the bottom of casing 45, thereby enabling connections from cord i4 of the hand set 9 and the other apparatus on the rear of mounting plate 5, to be easily made as well as the external line wires.

In the telephone set of Figs. 5 and 6, when the cover 44 is in its closed position, the entry of Water or moisture to the inside of the casing is positively prevented, and no damage to the telephonic apparatus can result. When the telephone set is taken into use the handle 46 is given a short turn thereby moving lug 49 from slot 50 and permitting the cover to open from the cas- Ving 40 and swing downward so that access to the telephone apparatus may be had. In this position the telephone set is of the same type of apparatus as the telephone set disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the apparatus supported on the front of the telephone is subject only to the splashing of water. As this however only takes place while the telephone is in use no serious deteriorating aiects result therefrom.

It will be obvious that when the mounting plate 5 and its associated telephone apparatus is placed in a'water tight telephone such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the signal bell 24 would not be audible For this purpose the call signal must be demounted and supported externally from the telephone in a Water-proof box or in a location not exposed as the telephone associated with it.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that applicant has devised a novel mounting plate for all of the apparatus usually associated With a substation telephone, this mounting plate being for universal use, either on a telephone set of the splash-proof type as shown in Fig. 3, or as a water-tight telephone as shown in Fig. 5.

What is claimed is:

l. A telephone set comprising a mounting plate having a depressed compartment in one section thereof, and a protruding portion in the adjacent section of the plate, flat portions formed above and below the protruding portion of the plate and adjacent to said depressed compartment, a hand set telephone supported in said depressed compartment, a magneto generator attached to the rear of said plate behind said protruding portion with the handle extending through the plate to the front side thereof, a manual selecting switch attached to the rear of the upper at portion of the mounting plate with the handle protruding to the front side thereof, a signal bell attached to the rear side of the liat portion of said mounting plate, and an instruction card attached to the opposite side of the last named section of the plate.

2. A telephone set having a mounting plate with a depressed compartment in one section thereof, a hand set telephone supported inside said compartment, the cord for said hand set extending through one of the sides of said compartment, a protruding portion in another section of said mounting plate adjacent said depressed portion, a magneto generator attached to the rear side of said protruding portion of the mounting plate and having a handle portion for actuating the generator extending to the front side of the mounting plate, a fiat portion formed in the mounting plate adjacent the depressed compartment and above the protruding portion, a manual selecting switch attached to the rear side of the flat portion of the mounting plate having an operating handle extending through to the front side of the plate, and a water-proof packing around the shaft of said manual selecting switch, said magneto handle shaft, and the hand set cord where it extends through the compartment side.

3. A telephone set having a mounting plate provided with a depressed compartment in one section thereof and a protruding portion in the other section of said plate, all talking and signaling instrumentalities of said telephone set attached to the rear and front sides of said mounting plate in said depressed compartment and said protruding portions, said instrumentalities arranged on said mounting plate so that they extend from the front and rear sides of the mounting plate at approximate equal distances'.

4. In a telephone set, a casing, a mounting plate supported in said casing, all talking and signaling instrumentalities attached to the front and rear sides of said mounting plate, said casing preventing the entrance of moisture to the rear side of said mounting plate and said attachments thereon while the front side of the mounting plate and said attachments thereon are arranged to be moisture proof.

5. In a telephone set, a casing, a mounting plate supported on a rim of said casing, said mounting plate having a depressed compartment in one section thereof and protruding portion formed in the other section of said plate, telephone apparatus including a hand set telephone supported on the front of said mounting plate in said depressed compartment, a selecting switch and a magneto generator attached to the rear of said mounting plate each having a handle extending to the front of the mounting plate, a signal bell attached to rear of said mounting plate, and means for sealing the junction of the mounting plate and the casing to prevent the entrance of moisture to the apparatus attached to the rear of said mounting plate.

6. A telephone set comprising a mounting plate, a depressed compartment formed in one section of the mounting plate, a hand set supporting hook rigidlyT attached tothe bottom of said compartment, a protruding portion formed in the other section of said mounting plate adjacent said depressed compartment, a ledge formed as a part of said mounting plate, for supporting a magneto generator on the rear side of and behind said protruding portion of the plate, a handle for the generator on the front of said protruding plate portion extending through said mounting plate, flat portions on said mounting plate formed above and below the protruding plate portion, a manual operated switch handle on the front of one of the flat portions extending through the mounting plate to switch elements attached to the rear of the mounting plate, an instruction card attached to the front of the other flat portion and a signal bell attached to the rear side of the same iiat portion, a water-proof casing, and means for supporting said mounting plate and all its apparatus in said casing.

7. A telephone set having a mounting plate, all of the talking and signalling instrumentalities of said set attached to said mounting plate, a casing for said mounting plate, a sound opening in the side of said casing for emission of the sound of said signal instrumentalities, said sound opening being moisture proof to protect the apparatus on said mounting plate enclosed within the casing.

8. A universal mounting plate for a telephone set comprising a plate having all talking and signalling instrumentalities of the set including the ringer attached to both sides thereof, a casing, means for supporting said mounting plate on the front side of said casing as a cover with the telephone apparatus on the rear of the mounting plate protected by said casing, the telephone apparatus on front of said plate being accessible for use and arranged to be splash-proof, a second casing, means for supporting said mounting plate exclusive of said ringer within said second casing so as to seal the rear side of said mounting plate and its apparatus thereon, and a hinged cover for said second casing for completely sealing up the telephonic apparatus mounted on the front side of said plate.

9. In a telephone set including a hand set telephone, a mounting plate having a depressed compartment therein, a supporting bracket attached rigidly to the bottom of said compartment for supporting said hand set in a central position within said compartment, a pair of flat spring clips engaging the handle of the hand set for preventing displacement of the hand set from the supporting bracket, and said spring clips rigidly attached to said bracket forming a unitary structure.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL. 

